We took the Coast Starlight from San Luis Obispo (half way between Los Angeles and San Franisco) to Seattle and back in July. We were 5 hours late arriving in Seattle which put us in at 1:30 AM! The good news was that the taxi company was tuned in to the train status and a gazillion cabs were waiting at the station. We were literally in our hotel room by 1:40! On the return trip we were about 1 hour late but people on board told us that this train is sometimes as much as 12 hours late.

Sleeping in the roomette (less than 4 by 8 feet) is difficult due to the erratic rocking of the train but we managed. There is absolutely no room for luggage. You leave it in a rack downstairs. There may be room for a tooth brush if it's not too big.

It sounds like you are Brit and the best thing about the train is that, in the dining car, each table holds four people. You are seated with total strangers and they are, in general, different for each meal so you'll get to meet a variety of Americans for better or worse. Also, if you go to the lounge car you'll meet even more people.

When we're in the British Isles, we look for ways to meet people because we think it's more fun that way.

Bev and Jerry